I just phoned AMEX and was told that the changes will be announced on 22 August. The decision to change the card has come from KLM.

The very friendly agent told me that status sharing will depend on which card you have (i.e. how much you are willing to pay), but could not tell me how much the fee would be. It would also depend on other situations which she could not tell me as they are currently getting trained on.

Furthermore I was told that there would be other benefits which "might be better than status sharing" (I wonder what that can be..).
As to the answer how long status sharing would last she could not give me a definitive answer. Based on previous contact it could be that the changes will not go in effect this calender year.

Gajan

Edit:

As the previous thread was getting a bit confusing with discussions regarding the Dutch and French American Express cards I have now moved the recent posts regarding the NL Flying Blue American Express cards to their own thread. You are requested to add new comments regarding the NL FB Amex in this thread.

For those those who want a recap of what has been said:

• By November all current NL FB Amex members will receive a separate Flying Blue card. All sub card holders will receive the status from the main card holder until 31.03.13. After that date they will have to earn their own status;
• Current situation (Plus Option / more miles per Euro spent) will cease per 18 November 2011. From this date the number of miles you earn depend on which American Express you choose;
• People who do not have the Plus Option will automatically be transferred to the Silver FB Amex;
• People with the Plus Option will automatically be transferred to the Gold FB Amex;
• It would appear that the airline wants to only reward the people who with status and not other people. The only way to share status is by taking the Platinum FB Amex and being Platinum Flying Blue member.
• If you take the Silver and Gold Flying Blue American Express cards you can have unlimited sub cards.
• For those people who have their annual fee waived based on spending pattern you are requested to contact American Express to discuss your situation under the new programme.